can gain access. The increasing interest which has been manifested for some time past, with relation to the things of God and the soul, is to be attributed, in no small measure, to the influence of his christian faithfulness and prayers.

Schools.

We have, in Bombay, five native free schools for boys, and thirteen for girls. On the continent are twelve schools, which admit both girls and boys.

The course of instruction heretofore pursued in our free schools, is still in all its important features continued. A new system, however, of classing the scholars, and paying the teachers, has recently been adopted, under which it is designed that all the free schools for boys, pertaining to the Mission, shall be brought, as soon as circumstances will admit.

It has been of considerable disadvantage to these schools, that suitable books for their use could not be obtained. So far as it respects those which inculcate christian truth, there has been no particular deficiency; yet, in order to secure an acquaintance with these, it is necessary to afford them facilities for improvement in those branches which shall qualify them for business. Measures have been taken to furnish these facilities which, it is hoped, will result in awakening new interest in the minds of both parents and children. We have in the way of preparation for reading books in the schools, the Spelling Book of the A. S. S. Union, and the Child's Book on the Soul.

The results of our efforts in behalf of female education are, every year, becoming more encouraging. It can no longer be regarded as an experiment, whether the Hindoo female is capable of intellectual improvement. Facts demonstrate that she is, and that to an extent which completely astonishes the prejudiced and superstitious father. The obstacles which have prevented access to this long neglected part of the community are beginning to disappear, and hopeful intimation is given, that the time of the redemption of the female mind in this country from its cruel and abject bondage draws nigh.

It has been for some time an object of desire with the Mission to procure a place, at which the female schools might be concentrated, so as to bring the children, as far as possible, under the immediate supervision of the Superintendant. During the past year, premises very convenient and suitable for this purpose have been obtained. They are situated on the opposite side of the street, directly in front of the chapel-four schools have since been located there; three others, being composed of the children of native soldiers, continue to occupy the apartments which were provided for them by the kindness of certain European officers. In view of favourable changes in the pecuniary circumstances of the Mission within a few years, the Mission have assumed the future expense of those schools which have been heretofore sustained by the friends of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. While we would express our

gratitude to British Christians for the favour thus shown us, we would invite American Christians to a participation with them in the rewards of good and faithful servants.

The girls of the Poor School receive a sum adequate to their daily support. They are the children of poor parents; and were it not for the maintenance which they thus obtain, instead of being instructed in those things which pertain to their usefulness and happiness, they would be trained to habits which degrade and destroy. There are about twenty-five belonging to this school, and the expense of their individual support varies from one to two rupees per month. For the support of the school, the Mission would gratefully acknowledge the receipt of two hundred Rupees from a benevolent individual, by whom our lack has often been supplied.

We have recently taken measures to secure a boarding school for females of the higher castes. The plan is of such a character as to remove the most formidable objections to this object, and we think that we have some ground to hope that our efforts will not be in vain-if made in the Lord, they certainly will not be in vain, whatever may be their result.

Our attention has been directed of late to the instruction of young men, Hindoos, Parsees, Mooselmen, and Portuguese, in different branches of English study. These young persons are influenced by

a variety of motives, though chiefly it may be by a desire to obtain favourable situations in business, to persue the study of English literature and science. We have been induced to gratify their wishes in these things, from a desire to gain access to those classes of the community which cannot be reached, by the common medium of preaching, to evince the sincerity of our professions of compassionate regard for their interests, and to avail ourselves of every possible means of making known the truth as it is in Jesus. The children come to us under circumstances which give us peculiar advantages for communicating religious knowledge. If they learn the English language, they must learn of those to whom it is vernacular; their own people cannot teach it them. If they learn it of us, they must receive it as a gratuity, and consequently, must submissively yield themselves to the course of instruction which is prescribed for them. In view of these considerations, we have kept open a English school for the last two years. During the past year, it has been in a flourishing and interesting state. The average number of scholars has been about fifty. Encouraged by the success which has attended previous efforts, to believe that a school of a high character may be established here, which will greatly conduce to the promotion of the kingdom of the Redeemer, the Mission have taken measures to secure a school of this description.

From twenty to thirty young men, most of whom bad situations in business, have beeen instructed in

English one hour each morning by Mr. Stone, at his place of residence. They were convened, on Sabbath morning, in the capacity of a Bible class, and instructed in the things that pertain to the kingdom of God. On Tuesday evening, they assembled for the purpose of hearing a familiar lecture, in the form of exposition, upon the portion of Scripture which had been gone over on the preceding Sabbath. This lecture was often attended by some of their friends, and at times assumed a peculiarly interesting character. A circulating library has been formed for their benefit, and used to a considerable extent.

An English school of about twenty five lads has been continued for most of the past year in Mahim, a place formerly ocupied by the Mission as a station. It has recently passed into the care of the Rev. Mr. Fletcher, of the Church of England. His known interest in the cause of religious education, is a pledge that these chidren will continue to be instructed in the knowledge of him who is the way, the truth, and the life.

An English school has also been opened of late for the instruction of Parsee and Hindoo girls. The number of those who attend is now small, yet increasing. This is the only means by which we can gain any access whatever to the female part of the Parsee population, and we have strong hopes that these efforts will result in great good.

While we are devoting so much attention to the subject of education, it would afford us much pleas